Law enforcement agencies to ramp up security for World Cup, July 4 crowds

Philadelphia police and partners are planning major security for World Cup events and July 4, with drones, K-9 units and large deployments.

Local, state and federal agencies are working together to prepare for the influx of visitors — and the increased risk of security threats that can come with large-scale events.

“Depending on which game, the manpower will dictate how many troopers will be at each game,” Pennsylvania State Police Major, Area IV Commander, Richard D’Ambrosio said.

Law enforcement leaders say the biggest challenge will likely come on the Fourth of July, when multiple events are expected to draw huge crowds across the city.

“We have the fan fest going on, so we’ll have significant deployment in the park leading into the night where we have a celebration,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said. “So we will probably have one of the largest deployments we ever had on a single day absent the Super Bowl.”

That Super Bowl deployment included about 3,400 officers, and officials say they expect similar staffing levels this summer.

Unlike past major events, such as the pope’s visit — when security was concentrated within a fenced perimeter — officials say this summer’s efforts will be more fluid, moving alongside crowds throughout the city.

Police say they will use a range of tools to enhance safety. That includes additional K-9 units, with 15 bomb-sniffing dogs being brought in from federal agencies to assist with patrols.

People using public transit, including the Broad Street Line to get to matches, may see those K-9 units in action.

Authorities will also rely on drones to monitor large areas from above, similar to how they were used during the Broad Street Run.

“I’m watching as I’m getting the feed. The drones are dropping down — there’s a bag. The drones are dropping down. Getting that overhead is important,” Bethel said.

Police say body-worn cameras equipped with translation technology will help officers communicate with visitors who speak different languages.

Officials are also working closely with the FBI to monitor potential threats and gather intelligence ahead of major events.

At the same time, they’re urging the public to remain alert and report anything suspicious.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.